Results 28,361-28,380 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts Data (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Department spent €375 in 2016 and €338.46 in 2017 with HP Ireland for printer services. The Department does not have a contract with any firm named DXC Technology, HP or a variation of these names.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Between Jan 1 and April 30 this year, the Passport Service received 358,572 passport applications. This represents a 9% increase on the same period last year. The increase in demand is driven by a number of factors including a general increase in the number of Irish residents travelling abroad, a growing population, as well as a significant rise in passport applications from Irish citizens...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: As Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for Brexit, I have responsibility for coordinating the whole-of-Government approach to the EU-UK negotiations and to preparations for Brexit, with a view to securing the best possible outcome for Ireland. I work closely with the Taoiseach, who as a member of the European Council, provides strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Working closely with a range of EU partners has always been important for Ireland. However, taking a strategic approach to these relationships has assumed renewed importance in the context of Brexit and requires a multifaceted engagement. In many key EU economic and institutional policy areas – on the Single Market, areas of EU trade, EMU reform and the digital single market - we...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Documents (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: In the December Joint Report of EU and UK negotiators, the UK committed to ensuring there would be no border infrastructure of any kind or associated checks and controls on the island of Ireland. The report stated the UK’s intention to achieve this through the wider EU-UK future relationship agreement or through specific solutions. Should this not be possible, the UK committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 108 together. The Syria conflict, which is now in its eighth year, has cost up to 500,000 lives. Over 13 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria. This is a tragedy which has caused untold misery for millions of ordinary Syrians, and which has had a serious impact on neighbouring countries. The long-running conflict in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008. This Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him/her. In order to meet this legal requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship in his/her passport application by providing acceptable documentary evidence of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I have made clear both in the Dáil and in public statements my serious concerns about the use of live fire by Israeli forces against demonstrators in Gaza in recent weeks, including yesterday, and the large number of casualties which have resulted. The use of force, and particularly deadly force, must only be used as a last resort and should be proportionate to a real and immediate...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service provides a range of application channels to Irish citizens wishing to apply for a passport. These include a postal application system, an online passport application service and the network of Irish Missions worldwide. In the relatively small number of cases where citizens need to travel very urgently and do not have a valid passport, the Passport Offices in Dublin and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The engagement by my Department on North South issues involves officials from across the Divisions of the Department. This engagement is led by the Department's Ireland, UK and Americas Division and particularly by a current team of four Dublin-based officials working within the Brexit and North South Coordination Unit who deal primarily with matters, including Brexit, relating to North...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: In the week of the 44th anniversary of the Dublin Monaghan bombings, which saw the biggest loss of life in a single day during the Troubles, I think it is important to acknowledge those across the House who work on a cross-party basis with the Government on this issue, and the tireless efforts of Justice for the Forgotten. The Government will be represented at the wreath-laying ceremony on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 115 together. I issued the following public statement on 8 May in response to the decision of the United States Government: “I am greatly disappointed by the US announcement that it is withdrawing from the nuclear agreement with Iran (the JCPOA). Ireland and our EU partners, and a very broad spectrum of international opinion have made clear...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116, 117 and 121 together. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to be a high priority both for the European Union and for me personally. It has been discussed at many recent meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council, and EU Ministers discussed the issue with Prime Minister Netanyahu in the margins of the December 2017 Foreign Affairs Council, and with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118, 120, 127 and 128 together. Issues relating to prisoners, both the judicial system and conditions of detention, feature in many discussions about the Middle East Peace Process, and I have addressed them frequently in the Dáil. My Department and I have also worked to highlight these issues internationally. For example, as part of the UN Human...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: All construction work in Gaza is severely hampered by Israeli restrictions on types and quantities of materials that are allowed into the Strip. This includes reconstruction of war damaged buildings, including large numbers of houses, and construction of essential infrastructure, such as badly needed water, sewage and electricity utilities. Even those projects which are approved are subject...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Western Balkans Issues (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The European Union continues to work closely with the countries of the Western Balkans to encourage progress on their European path. The stability of the Western Balkans is important for the security of the EU and the region is a priority for the Bulgarian Presidency. A Strategy for the Western Balkans was published in February, and the Taoiseach will attend an EU-Western Balkans Summit in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Good Friday Agreement is the indispensable framework for providing stable, inclusive, power-sharing government for all the people of Northern Ireland and for sustaining our interlocking relationships – within Northern Ireland, on the island of Ireland and between the UK and Ireland. Over the course of many months, the Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Following on from the March European Council, the EU and UK agreed to five additional formal rounds of negotiations between April and the next European Council in June. These negotiations are focused on all outstanding issues in the draft Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as the future relationship. The UK has agreed that a backstop...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Considerable ongoing efforts are being made by Ireland and our EU partners to resolve, and where possible prevent, conflicts using all the available instruments to foster constructive dialogue and to encourage peaceful, negotiated solutions to political differences. There is no general agreement however on the situations which give rise to the greatest concern globally. Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Engagement on Brexit with EU partners is a central element of my work. This approach has yielded clear results in ensuring that Ireland’s unique issues and concerns have been fully understood by our EU27 partners and have been reflected in the EU’s negotiating position. As the negotiations enter an important phase over the coming weeks and months, continuing such engagement...